Duits Memorial Service Set for Tuesday

Duits Memorial Service Set for Tuesday

GUNNISON, Colo. - Memorial services for assistant cross country coach and standout Mountaineer runner Lisa Thomas Duits will be held tomorrow, Oct. 20, at 4 p.m. in Paul Wright Gym. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Mountain Range High School in Westminster, Colo.

Duits was killed in a car accident early Saturday morning, Oct. 17, south of Crested Butte. She was in her first season as an assistant coach after finishing an All-American career for the Mountaineers this spring. She married 2009 Western State graduate Zachary Duits this past September.

Duits earned the Paul Wright Award in 2009 as Western State's top female senior student-athlete. She led the women's cross country team to a podium finish in 2008, was the RMAC champion in the steeplechase in 2009 and finished her career with the program's third-fastest time in the steeplechase. She earned six All-RMAC honors last season between cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field.

Duits graduated Summa Cum Laude with a double-major in physical education and exercise science. She was a Dean's List student every semester and earned the Ernest Degutis Scholarship in the Exercise and Sport Science program in 2007.

In lieu of flowers, a fund has been established at the Western State College Foundation for the cross country and track and field program. Memorials can be made by calling (970) 641-2237 or online at western.edu/foundation.